Audio 4:32
More uproar in Victorian Parliament with Geoff Shaw again at the centre

Sarah Farnsworth
Wed 27 Nov 2013, 7:16 PM AEDT

There have been more scenes of uproar in the Victorian Parliament with independent MP Geoff Shaw moving a motion that led to the Labor Party accusing the Napthine Government of doing grubby deals to shore up its position in the lower house. Yesterday, the suspension of two senior Labor MPs amid chaotic scenes secured the Coalition a clear majority until next year and ended an impasse that was preventing any bills being passed.

Transcript

MARK COLVIN: There have been more scenes of uproar in the Victorian Parliament and once again the renegade independent MP Geoff Shaw is right in the middle of it.

This morning Mr Shaw moved a motion that led to the Labor Party accusing the Napthine Government of doing "grubby deals" to shore up its position in the Lower House.

Yesterday, the suspension of two senior Labor MPs amid chaotic scenes secured the Coalition a clear majority until next year and ended an impasse that was preventing any bills being passed.

Sarah Farnsworth reports from Melbourne.

SARAH FARNSWORTH: Balance-of-power MP Geoff Shaw was on his feet at the very beginning of Parliament with a motion to have a complaint about parliamentary security referred to the Victorian Privileges Committee.

He alleges he was assaulted on the steps of Parliament House by an elderly protestor back in October.

GEOFF SHAW: It is my understanding that no public gathering is allowed to take place beyond the lower steps of Parliament. It is you, Speaker, who is responsible for that, for security of this place and to keep us safe. You have failed in that.

I therefore request that you refer this matter to the Privileges Committee, which you have, in order for them to deal with this matter - and I have no confidence in the Privileges Committee either.

SARAH FARNSWORTH: The motion was supported by both the Speaker, Ken Smith, and the Government, sparking claims of dirty deals and betrayals of biblical proportion.

LOUISE ASHER: Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Government wishes to support the motion.

(sound of uproar in House)

KEN SMITH: Order. Order! Order! Order.

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: Thirty pieces of silver!

SARAH FARNSWORTH: It comes after Mr Shaw was absent from a crucial vote that gave the Speaker, Ken Smith, numbers in the Lower House, when Mr Smith used his casting vote to eject two senior Labor MPs for an unprecedented six days.

That move shored up a slim majority for the Coalition for the next two sitting weeks. Senior Labor frontbencher Martin Pakula was among those to cry foul.

MARTIN PAKULA: Let's all suspend disbelief, Speaker. Let's all believe that the fact that the Government is today supporting the motion - the fact that the Government today is supporting the motion of the Member for Frankston, the same Member whose absence provided the Government with the opportunity to eject two members of the Labor Party from the House are completely unrelated!

Completely unrelated! Absolutely no connection whatsoever. No discussion about whether any commitments were made to the Member for Frankston to get his withdrawal from the Chamber yesterday. The Government won't even say when they decided to support this motion.

SARAH FARNSWORTH: Geoff Shaw used the criticism to attack the Speaker, despite having already secured his support.

GEOFF SHAW: Just to put it clear: I made these representations back on the 15th, or just after the event, and if it wasn't for your slothfulness in getting back to me, this would have been heard quite some time ago. It wouldn't have been heard now. It would have been heard quite some time ago. So no grubby deal was ever done.

SARAH FARNSWORTH: Mr Shaw was in a meeting with the Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, when the question to oust the MPs was put to the vote yesterday.

On arriving at Parliament this morning, Mr Guy gave his explanations to the waiting media.

REPORTER: Were you there to strike a deal with Geoff Shaw? To offer him something? Were you there to offer him...

MATTHEW GUY: If anyone thinks that I can strike a deal with Geoff Shaw in three minutes, first of all that is completely ridiculous. Secondly, Geoff Shaw doesn't do deals and nor does the Government and that's been made plainly, simple and obvious and straightforward for a long period of time.

SARAH FARNSWORTH: Mr Shaw's motion on Parliamentary security was also labelled as racist.

HONG LIM: This motion is racist in its content.

(sound of uproar in House)

KEN SMITH: Order. Order.

HONG LIM: Because, because the people will be going to home in front of this...

SARAH FARNSWORTH: More squabbling led to the ejection of more Labor MPs.

KEN SMITH: The Member for Albert Park can... the Member for Albert Park can leave the Chamber for an hour and a half.

SARAH FARNSWORTH: The Premier also denies any deals have been done, but that didn't stop the Leader of the Opposition, Daniel Andrews, during yet another fiery Question Time.

DANIEL ANDREWS: It's the only thing this Government does, Speaker, is work every day in the shadiest way to survive. To survive. That is the business of this Government and he ought to answer- (microphone cut off).

KEN SMITH: I uphold the point of order and rule the question out of order. The Member for Mildura.